Electric switch



Feb. 21, 1933. A Y D D E 1,898,006

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ITufznEk AdzP/Joa Q A. Y. DODGE ELECTRIC SWITCH Feb. 21, 1933.

Filed May 6, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m n m h Patented Feb. 21, 1933 ADIEL Y. DODGE, F SGUTH BEND, INDIANA ELECTRIC SWITCH Application filed May 6,

This invention relates to electric switches and may be characterized as an improvement in electric switches of the type illustrated and described in my copending application, Serial No. 358,782, filed April 29, 1929, and in the copending application of Harris C. Roth, Serial No. 358,792, filed April 29, 1929.

It is an object of the present invention to increase the adaptability of the device to existing operating mechanisms.

Another object is to increase the stability of the device and more particularly to provide a device having a lower center of gravity.

Another object is to improve the conductivity or dissipation of the heat away from the circuit making and breaking region of the device. 4

Another object is the provision of a generally improved and simplified device that may be economically produced.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a device embodying the present invention in closed circuit position and showing in dotted lines the tube from which the device is preferably formed;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, showing the device in level posltlon;

F lgure 3 is another similar view, showing 7 the device in open circuit position;

Figure 4is a view similar to Figure 1 of another embodiment of the invention;

Figures 5 and (3 are views similar to Figures 2 and 8 of the embodiment shown a in Figure 4; and

Figure 7 is a more or less diagrammatic perspective View, showing another form of mounting for the tube.

Referring to the drawings, 10 indicates the bulb or enclosing envelope, which is shown of generally rectangular configuration with the opposite ends brought relatively close together.' The longitudinal legs 11 and 12, which operate relative a general- 1929. Serial no. 360,732.

ly horizontal plane are connected at one end by a connection 13, which is preferably rounded or formed on aradius. This rounded end 13 is preferably of a relatively sweeping or major curvature, as distinguished from an abrupt turn or localized corner, but this may vary.

The free end of the lower leg 12 is turned up generally vertically at 14 with this upstanding or generally vertical leg 14 extending upwardly suiliciently to receive the lower body or column of mercury or conducting liquid 15 and to permit this lower liquid body 15 to move away from the bend 18 along which the make and break occurs, as shown in Figure 3, and away front the upper liquid body 17 into which the liquid body within the envelope is separated as the device is swung to circuit breaking position, as shown in Figure 3.

In other words, the lower leg 12 with the generally vertical leg 14: is preferably not merely a well for receiving one body of mercury while the other body separates or moves away from the same, but is adapted to permit movement of the lower body or column away from the make and break region 16 with movement of the up or body 17 away from thebody 15 and mm the make and break region '16 in the opposite direction. This substantially doubles the speed of make and break in the manner of the applications above referred to with reduced heating and arcing and a cleaner and better break.

lVith the present construction, however, the device is particularly adapted for pivoting upon a horizontal pivot indicated at 20 and by the disposition of this horizontal pivot between the longitudinal legs 11 and 12 better stability is obtained.- This improved stability is produced by lowering the center of gravity of the device by reason of the generally rectangular configuration and the disposition of the pivot 20 between the longitudinal legs 11 and 12. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the center of gravity of the device is below the pivot 20.

- By the generally vertical or upright posisingle in he opening and tioning of the leg 14, the lower mercury or liquid body 15 is revented from sloughing away from the ma (e and break region 13 1n the opening movement of the sw tch. Such sloughing away of the lower liqu d body would reduce the cross-section of this body, Whereas, with the upright or generally vertical leg 14, the cross-section of thelo'wer liquid body 15 is not reduced in the opemng movement of the switch, but continuesto fill the section of the leg 12 and that portion of the leg 14 into which the liquid body extends.

This maintenance of fill in the leg l2 and leg portion 14 and accompanying maintenance of cross-section of the lower l1qu1d body in the opening and closing movement of the switch provides a mercury path of greater section than would be provlded if this liquid were permitted to slough away closing movements of the switch. Mercury, or the conducting liquld employed in the switch, is a good conductor of heat and, by maintaining'the lower leg of the device full and the section of the mercury or other liquid of this lower le maximum, the conduction and dissipatlon o the heat from the region of make and break and through the lower liquid body 1s increased, and a better cooling efi'ect 1s obtained.

The electrodes 25 and 26 may be sealed through the ends of the legs 10 and 14 with their inner ends disposed within the legs 11 and 12 to be connected by the mercury or other liquid body when the device 18 1n closed position, shown in Figure 1, and to be disconnected at the make and break reion 16 when the device is tilted about the pivot 20 to the position shown in Figure 3. It'is to be understood, of course, that the electric circuit controlled by the switch is connected with the electrodes 25 and 26 and that this circuit is opened and closed by tilting the device from closed circuit position, shown in Figure 1, to open c1rcu1t position, shown in Figure 3, and vice versa.

The envelope lOis preferably formed of a length of straightv glass tubing, indicated in dotted lines at 28, in Figure 1.

The generally rectangular configuration is'conveniently and inexpensively formed by heating the tubing 28 and bending it to the desired configuration, that is, with the leg ll turned up' therefrom. as shown, and the opposite end turned back to form the upper leg 11 with the rounded section 13 between this upper leg 11 and the lower leg 12. This is far less expensive, particularly in the matter of time and labor, than blowing the envelope to the desired configuration and it involves much less expense and labor than in making the envelopeup with separate wells or the like and fusing the separate i parts together, as heretofore. The entire envelope is adapted to be formed merely by a heating and bending operation, which may be supplemented with drawing or other viously, the longitudinal legs 11 and 12 with [the rounded conneition 13 makes this portion of the tube'of generally U-shaped configuration. The electrodes 25 and 26 are shown as entering the envelope thru the ends of the tube and substantially normal to the direction of extension of the legs 11 and 12, with their inner ends turned to extend in the direction of extension of the legs 11 and 12.

In the embodiment of Figures 4, 5 and 6, the free cndot the upper leg 11' of the tube is turned up generally parallel at 60 with the upturned end 14' of the lower leg 12, with the electrodes 25' and 26 sealed thru the upturned ends 60 and 14 and extending into the upper and lower legs of the tube sufficiently to be electricallyconnected with the mercury. In this case, greater movement of the upper body 62 is permitted and the conduction ofheat away and dissipation of heat from the make and break region thru the upper liquid body 62 is increased.

In this case, the upturned end 60 of the upper leg 11 permits a full cross-section of mercury within theupper leg 11 in the manner in which a. full cross-section of mercury is permitted in the lower leg of this 'and the previous embodiment of the invention. This -full section of-the mercury column 62, in the upper leg, with the full section of the column 62, in the lower leg, effectively pockets the vapor formed by the columns (32 and (32 at the breaking region 16', as the tube is tilted to the position shown in Figure 6 to break the circuit. In other words, the vapor formed at the make and break region 16' is not free to pass around an upper column of incomplete section and the result is that the full expansive effect of this vapor is exerted upon both upper and lower mercury columns, to force these columns away from each other and further increase the speed of the breaking operation. Furthermore, the full cross-section of mercury in the upper leg increases the section of the upper column of. mercury which is a good comlnctor of heat and the heat is conducted away from form of tube may be used as a partially filled tube.

lhe tube is shown substantially filled or at least with the mercury filling the upper leg ll and extending into the up-turned end of this leg with the tube in the position shown in Figure 4. The vapor bubbles are indicated at 65 and 66 (Figure 5) moving toward or away from the circuit making and breaking region 16 and through the full section mercury columns 62 and 62*. In the embodiment of Figure 7 the tube 80, which is of the type illustrated in Figures l to 6, is mounted as by means of clip portions 81 upon a pivot member 82, which pivot member 82 is journalled in bearing uprights 83 and 84 upstanding from a base 85. The pivot member 82 is inclined relative the base 85 or relative the horizontal in the illustrated embodiment at about an angle of 30, as shown, and the legs 86 and 87 of the tube are laid across the pivot member 82 at an angle thereto, which angle is, in the illustrated embodiment, about 45, as illustrated. A crank 88 is shown for turning the pivot member 82, and in this trated, the upturned ends 92 and 93 of the legs 86 and 87 are swung downwardly-toward a horizontal plane. This movement of the up-turned ends 92 and 93 toward a horizontal position reduces the vertical angles which the separating mercury columns 94 and 95 must climb in the up-turned ends 92 and 93 in the breaking operation of the device, and a quicker break is produced.

I donot intend to be limited to the precise details shown or described.

I claim:

1. In adevice of the class described, an envelope having a generally U-shaped portion with a rounded make and break connection and a pair of legs disposed generally horizontal in operation, one of said legs being in a plane above the plane of the other leg, a body of liquid disposed within said envelope and an upturned end on the lower leg for receiving the liquid from the lower leg in 60 circuit opening movement of the switch and for returning liquid to said lower leg in closing movement of the switch.

2. In a liquid switch, a tube for holding and sealing the switch liquid, said tube having a circuit making and breaking connection and a pair of liquid receiving and conducting legs angularly disposed relative said connection for receiving and permitting rescission of the liquid from and toward said circuit making and breaking connection, and means on one of said legs for receiving liquid therefrom and returning same to said leg to maintain the section of said leg full of liquid in the opening and closing movements of the switch.

3. In a liquid switch, a tube for holding and sealing the switch liquid, said tube having acircuit making and breaking connection and a pair of liquid receiving and conducting legs angularly disposed relative thereto for receiving and permitting rescission of the liquid from and toward said connection, and means comprising a. leg turned up from the end of one of said first legs and extending upwardly for receiving liquid from and returning liquid to the leg from which it is turned to maintain the section of said leg full of liquid in the opening and closing movement of the switch.

4. In a device of the character described, an envelope of generally open rectangular configuration, electrodes entering said envelope, a body of liquid disposed in said envelope and adapted for connecting and disconnecting said electrodes, and a pivot for said device disposed internally of said gen- .erally open rectangular figure.

5. In a liquid switch, a tube for holding and sealing the switch liquid, said tube having a circuit making and breaking connection, and a pair of elongated liquid receiving and conducting legs angularly disposed relative thereto for receiving and permitting rescission of the liquid in opposite directions from and toward said connection and a pivot for the switch disposed below at least one of said legs. 7 p

6. In a device of the class described, a mercury contact tube having a generally U- shaped portion including opposite legs disposed generally horizontally in operation, one leg being in a plane situated above the plane of the other leg, and a make and break connection between said legs, a pivot for the device disposed between said legs, and an upright leg turned up from the end of the bottom leg of said first legs for receiving liquid from and returning same to said bottom leg to maintain the section of said leg full of liquid in the opening and closing movement of the switch.

7. In a liquid switch, a tube for holding and sealing the switch liquid, said tube comprising a lower leg and an upper leg, both disposed generally horizontally in operation, and a circuit making and breaking lconnection between said upper and lower egs. A

8. In a liquid switch, a tube for holding and sealing the switch liquid, said tube comprising a lower leg and an upper leg, both disposed generally horizontally in operation, a circuit making and breaking connection between said upper and lower legs, and an upturned end on the lower leg for receiving liquid from and returning same to said lower le P 9. In a liquid switch, a tube for holding and sealing the switch liquid, said tube comprising a lower leg and an upper leg, both disposed generally horizontally in operation, a circuit making and breaking connection between said upper and lower legs, and an upturned end on the upper leg for receiving liquid from and returning same to said upper leg.

10. In a liquid switch, a tube for holding and sealing the switch liquid, said tube comprising a lower leg and an upper leg, both disposed generally horizontally in operation, a circuit making and breaking connection between said upper and lower le s, and an upturned end onthe upper and ower legs for receiving liquid from and returning same to said upper and lower legs.

11. A liquid switch comprising a container niovably mounted and provided with a pair of liquid receiving portions, means movably mounting the container so that movement of the same makes and breaks the connection between the liquid in said two portions, and reservoir means associated with one-of said portions and adapted to receive the switch liquid therein when" the circuit is broken by separating said liquid into two bodies, whereby the expansive force of the gas generated at the point of break acts to move said one portion into said reservoir means to hasten the separation of the bodies. 12. A switch unit comprising a tube adapted to contain a conducting switch liquid, electrodes sealed in said tube, said tube providing a generally U-shaped passage for holding and conducting the switch liquid,. and upwardly extending reservoir means associated with one end of said passage for receiving a portion of said liquid when the liquid is separated into two-bodies to interrupt the circuit including said electrodes and liquid, whereby the expansive force of the gas generated at the point of break is available to move said portion of the switch liquid against the force of gravity into said reservoir means to hasten the separation. I e

13. In a device of the character described, an envelope of generally open rectangular configuration, electrodes entering said envelope, a body of liquid disposed in said envelope; and adapted for connecting and disconnecting said electrodes, a liquid 'receiving reservoir associated with said envelope, an inclined pivot for said'envelope, and

means connecting said envelope to said pivot so that said reservoir extends at a slight angle to the horizontal.

14. In .a device of the character described, an envelope of generally open rectangular configuration, electrodes entering said envelope, a holy of liquid disposed in said envelope and adapted for connecting and disconnecting said electrodes, said envelope pair of communicating liquid receiving portions-means movably mounting the container so that movement of the same makes and breaks the connection between the liquid in said two portions, upwardly extending liquid receiving reservoir means communicating witheach of said portions for receiving liquid from and returning the same to said ortions to maintain the sections thereof full of liquid in the opening and closing movement of the switch, whereby the expansive force of the gas generated at the instant of break acts to move the separated bodies of liquid toward said reservoir. means, thereby hastening the separation of the liquid bodies.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 23rd day of April, 1929.

ADIEL Y. DODGE. 

